Rising household bills are not hitting holiday sales, says Multicom
Rising household bills are not stopping Brits from booking holidays, according to figures from travel search engine Multicom.
The technology firm, which handles millions of travel searches and bookings made both online and via high street travel agents, said the number of bookings made during the first three months of 2008 was up more than 40%.
Chris Nourse, of Multicom, said holiday sales have remained strong, despite increases in the cost of food, housing, transport and taxes.
“Years ago, holidays abroad were seen as a luxury for the few who could afford them,†he said.
“Now, it seems they are being seen more and more as an essential which people refuse to give up just because they have less money in their pocket after paying their other bills.
“We’re not saying that the travel industry won’t find it hard if household inflation continues to outstrip people’s pay rises, but from what we’ve seen so far, the industry might be less susceptible than had previously been thought.â€
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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